Overlook Neighborhood Update (Sept. 2)

1) Movie in Overlook Park (Sunday)
2) OKNA Board meeting (Sept. 6)
3) Community meetings about housing (Sept. 8 & 10)
4) Catio Tour (Sept. 10)
5) Beer fest booth a success
6) City to renew housing state of emergency
7) Learn about local plants (Saturdays, Sept. 10 to Oct. 1)


1) Movie in Overlook Park (Sunday)movie_in_park1

The Overlook Neighborhood Association in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation Department will host an outdoor showing of “The Wizard of Oz” on Sunday. Bring out the kids for an evening of fun. A face painter will begin at 6 p.m. There also will be a climbing wall, food vendors and free popcorn. The movie start at 8, but come early to get a good seat.

movie_in_park2Kids who come dressed as a character from the movie will receive a small gift, including a ticket for the raffle drawing. Adults will need to buy tickets for $5 or five for $20. Ten prize packages featuring gift certificates from generous local businesses will be awarded. Winners do not need to be present to win.

Movie in the Park
Sunday, Sept. 4, 6 p.m. (move begins by 8)
Overlook Park


2) OKNA Board meeting (Sept. 6)

The Overlook Neighborhood Association Board will meet on Tuesday. The agenda features a presentation about an upcoming development project and a discussion about the neighborhood mural.

OKNA board meeting (agenda)
Tuesday, Aug. 2, 6:30-8 p.m.
Overlook House (3839 N Melrose Dr.)


3) Community meetings about housing (Sept. 8 & 10)

The Community Oversight Committee will meet on Thursday, Sept. 8. The Oversight Committee is a community-based body formed to oversee the Portland Housing Bureau’s ongoing work to address displacement in North and Northeast Portland. The committee meets every other month for progress updates and discussion on the N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy. These meetings are open to the public.

Meeting agendas and materials are posted online here in advance of each meeting. Click here to watch video of past 2016 Oversight Committee meetings.

Community Oversight Committee meeting
Thursday, Sept. 8, 6-8 p.m.
New Song Community Center (220 NE Russell St.)

Then, on Saturday, Sept. 10, Join the Portland Housing Bureau for an update on the work we’ve done in N/NE Portland since 2015 with the $20 million dedicated to affordable housing initiatives — and share your priorities for $32 million in additional funds approved by City Council for the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area this past fall.

At this forum, community members will learn about programs available through the Portland Housing Bureau, vote on their priorities for new funding, and propose ideas for other types of programming not currently offered. Continental breakfast will be provided.

Anyone needing child care or translation services at this event will need to register by Sept. 7 by clicking here or by calling 503-823-2375.

Community Forum
Saturday, Sept. 10, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
St. Johns Community Center (8247 N Central St.)


4) Catio Tour (Sept. 10)

catio2016The Audubon Society of Portland and the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon will co-host the fourth annual Catio Tour on Saturday, Sept. 10. Through the Catio Tour, this unprecedented partnership is working to keep cats and birds safe in our community. By showcasing a variety of catios from DIY to designer our goal is to inspire people to build a catio to fit their needs.

There will be eight catios on the tour, with half in SE Portland and half in the SW Portland/Lake Oswego area.

After signing up, get your friends organized for a carpool/ bikepool. Vist the Facebook page to learn more.

About a week before the event watch your email for the Catio Tour Guidebook. In it you’ll find descriptions of the catios as well as maps to plan your outing. This is a self-guided tour so you get to choose your route. The catios are open from 10am – 2pm.

Register for the Catio Tour online.


5) Beer fest booth a success

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the OKNA booth at the Organic Beer Fest last week. We enjoyed meeting so many of our neighbors.

More than 170 people put pins into our citywide neighborhood map. The most came from the Overlook neighborhood, but people from every quadrant of the city and beyond visited. Guests from outside of Portland came from as far away as Massachusetts and Alabama.


6) City to renew housing state of emergency

Portland City Council on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a one-year extension of the housing emergency that allows the city to waive some rules regarding housing and homeless. OKNA board member Chris Trejbal provided testimony prior to the vote urging council not to renew the emergency. Watch the full session and Trejbal’s testimony.



7) Learn about local plants (Saturdays, Sept. 10 to Oct. 1)

Have you ever walked around your neighborhood, or gone on a hike, and wished you knew the names of the plants you saw? Have you ever wondered how they fit into the ecosystem and what uses they have? Deepen your connection with the place we live by tuning in to the world of plants and learning how the flora of our bio-region is in flux. Understanding the species we share our home with positions us to be advocates for conservation and offers tools for reimagining our personal and collective relationships to nature.

The class will meet in at the shelter in Overlook Park and is being taught by Overlook’s Mulysa Melco as part of the Portland Underground Graduate School. Learn more, register, and review class costs on their website.